Learning 2,000 kanji, Sino-Japanese characters, and retaining knowledge about them is the most challenging part of Japanese-language acquisition. Since Japanese-language instruction places strict emphasis on stroke order in kanji writing, learning to write them correctly becomes a complex task. Thus, instructors need to make the learning process for students less burdensome. However, current trend in Japanese pedagogy overemphasizes oral and aural skills that writing instruction is neglected or left to self-study.
By using pen-based computer, instructors can create video clips to show how to write kanji. Students can watch them as many times as they want and whenever they want. Handwriting input also allows instructors to view how students write kanji anytime they want, not just during class hour.
Use of pen-based computer was experimented over two semesters at a university-level institution with twenty-three students in elementary to intermediate Japanese-language courses. Students learned how to write kanji in class and then continued to practice writing as a homework assignment. Feedback from students revealed: 1) viewing video clips motivated students and encouraged them to pay attention to stroke order because it was more intuitive; 2) the instructor’s monitoring obliged students to be more careful with stroke order when practice writing.